Soft magnetic composite (SMC) materials made of iron powder are more frequently used in construction of electric actuators and motors because of their advantages with respect to Fe-Si electric steel sheets and because they have almost no powder loss. The study deals with measurements of temperature and torque of a low-power rotary switched reluctance actuator, with reference to a commercial actuator and a prototype actuator characterized by stator and rotor cores made of soft magnetic composite materials. Further power loss analysis was also conducted. To assess the actuators, magnetization characteristics and iron loss vs. magnetic flux density at a given frequency were measured according to IEC standards. Results show that the actuator made of soft magnetic composites exhibits higher efficiency and a lower temperature rise of stator and windings in comparison with the commercial actuator.Due to the increasing use of antibiotics, measures are being taken to improve their removal from the natural environment. The support of biodegradation with natural surfactants that increase the bioavailability of impurities for microorganisms that degrade them, raises questions about their effect on bacterial cells. In this paper we present analysis of the interaction of nitrofurantoin (NFT) and saponins from the Saponaria officinalis on the environmental bacteria membrane and the model phospholipid membrane mimicking it. A wide perspective of the process is provided with the Langmuir monolayer technique and membrane permeability test with bacteria. The obtained results showed that above critical micelle concentration (CMC), saponin molecules are incorporated into the POPE monolayer, but the NFT impact was ambiguous. What is more, differences in membrane permeability between the cells exposed to NFT in comparison to that of the non-exposed cells were observed above 1.0 CMC for Achromobacter sp. KW1 or above 0.5 CMC for Pseudomonas sp. MChB. In both cases, NFT presence lowered the membrane permeability. Moreover, the Congo red adhesion to the cell membrane also decreased in the presence of a high concentration of surfactants and NFT. The results suggest that saponins are incorporated into the bacteria membrane, but their sugar hydrophilic part remains outside, which modifies the adsorption properties of the cell surface as well as the membrane permeability.Previously, we reported that the hot water extract of Hydrangea serrata leaves (WHS) and its active component, hydrangenol, possess in vitro and in vivo effects on skin wrinkles and moisturization. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to clinically evaluate the effect of WHS on human skin. Participants (n = 151) were randomly assigned to receive either WHS 300 mg, WHS 600 mg, or placebo, once daily for 12 weeks. Skin wrinkle, hydration, elasticity, texture, and roughness parameters were assessed at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Compared to the placebo, skin wrinkles were significantly reduced in both WHS groups after 8 and 12 weeks. In both WHS groups, five parameters (R1-R5) of skin wrinkles significantly improved and skin hydration was significantly enhanced when compared to the placebo group after 12 weeks. Compared with the placebo, three parameters of skin elasticity, including overall elasticity (R2), net elasticity (R5), and ratio of elastic recovery to total deformation (R7), improved after 12 weeks of oral WHS (600 mg) administration. Changes in skin texture and roughness were significantly reduced in both WHS groups. No WHS-related adverse reactions were reported. Hence, WHS could be used as a health supplement for skin anti-aging.Grapes, one of the oldest agricultural crops, are cultivated to produce table fruits, dried fruits, juice, and wine. Grapevine variety is composed of clones that share common morphological traits. However, they can differ in minor genetic mutations which often result in not only notorious morphological changes but also in other non-visible sensorial distinctive attributes. In the present work, we identified three Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot noir clones grown under identical field conditions that showed different grape cluster types. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/avelestat-azd9668.html Here, sensorial analysis together with non-targeted metabolite profiles by Ultra High performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) couples to Ultra High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) of wines elaborated from the three different grape cluster types was studied with the aim of (i) finding sensorial differences among these three types of wines, and, if there were, (ii) determining the molecular features (metabolites) associated with these sensorial attributes by a multivariate statistical approach.Edible flowers are consumed for their appearance, colours, nutritional and healthy properties, but the use is limited by the actual number of the species. Seven edible flowers of the Lamiaceae family (Ocimeae and Mentheae tribes) were investigated Monarda didyma 'Fireball', Nepeta × faassenii 'Six Hills Giant', Ocimum basilicum 'Blue Spice', O. basilicum 'Cinnamon', Ocimum × citriodorum, Salvia discolor, and Salvia microphylla 'Hot Lips'. Total soluble sugars, proteins, polyphenols, carotenoids, ascorbic acid and antioxidant activity were detected. The species of the Mentheae tribe contained higher sugar content than Ocimeae flowers, the opposite with regard to protein content. Ocimeae tribe flowers showed high polyphenols and carotenoids content. The Ocimeae tribe together with two specie of the Mentheae tribe showed an aroma profile dominated by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (58.0% in S. discolor to 77.9% in Ocimum × citriodorum). Oxygenated monoterpenes prevailed in Nepeta and Monarda, also present in the essential oil of this latter species (84.5%). By contrast, Nepeta and S. discolor evidenced non-terpenes as the principal class (41.2% and 77.5%, respectively), while the oxygenated sesquiterpene was the main one in S. microphylla. The two varieties of Ocimum spp. showed oxygenated monoterpenes as the main class of volatiles.Recycling of metallic solid-waste (SW) components has recently become one of the most attractive topics for scientific research and applications on a global scale. A considerable number of applications are proposed for utilizing metallic SW products in different applications. Utilization of SW magnesium (Mg) metal for tailoring high-hydrogen storage capacity nanoparticles has never been reported as yet. The present study demonstrates the ability to produce pure Mg ingots through a melting and casting approach from Mg-machining chips. The ingots were used as a feedstock material to produce high-quality Mg-ribbons, using a melting/casting and spinning approaches. The ribbons were then subjected to severe plastic deformation through the cold rolling technique. The as-cold roll Mg strips were then snipped into small shots before charging them into reactive ball milling. The milling process was undertaken under high-pressure of pure hydrogen gas (H2), where titanium balls were used as milling media. The final product obtained after 100 h of milling showcased excellent nanocrystalline structure and revealed high hydro/dehydrogenation kinetics at moderate temperature (275°C).